Brian Hoyer

Hoyer will enter the season as the clear backup to Jay Cutler. After throwing an equal amount of touchdowns to interceptions over his first five years in the NFL, Hoyer broke out with the Texans last ...

After two underwhelming years in Cleveland, Hoyer signed a two-year, $10.5 million contract in March with the Texans to compete with Ryan Mallett for the starting job. While Hoyer has the bigger contract, he also has the lower ceiling. Although he's gone 10-7 as a starter since entering the league in 2009, Hoyer has completed just 56.5 percent of his passes for 7.23 YPA and a 19:19 TD:INT ratio. With the Browns last season, he ranked ninth in YPA but finished 32nd among 33 qualified quarterbacks in completion percentage, struggling mightily down the stretch with a 2:9 TD:INT ratio in his final five games. The 29-year-old is a capable backup but doesn't stand out in terms of arm strength, accuracy, size or mobility. Mallett has better raw skills but much less experience, having made the first two starts of his career last year prior to suffering a season-ending torn pectoral. Whoever wins the job will have a nice collection of skill players to work with, highlighted by DeAndre Hopkins, Cecil Shorts, third-round pick Jaelen Strong and running back Arian Foster.

2014

Hoyer will open the year as Cleveland's starter, but he's unlikely to hold off 22nd overall pick Johnny Manziel for more than a few weeks. Returning from an October ACL tear and throwing to a WR rotation that will be without Josh Gordon, Hoyer will likely struggle when he sees the field, at which point the stage will be set for Manziel. Hoyer was somewhat effective with Gordon on the field last year, though, throwing five touchdowns compared to three interceptions.

2013

With the jury still out on Brandon Weeden, the signing of Hoyer by the Browns sparked a bit of conversation at the time of the announcement. He received his first career start last season, though his play in his two games of action failed to change the perception he's going to be anything more than a reserve. He completed 30-of-53 passes for 330 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. The support behind Weeden has grown since Hoyer arrived in Cleveland and he'll battle Jason Campbell for the backup duties this season.

2012

Hoyer, who is ticketed for free agency after this season, has developed into a trusted backup for the Patriots, but if another team suffers an injury at QB, then the Patriots could consider dangling Hoyer, if they feel that Ryan Mallett is ready to assume the No. 2 QB job. That's something that the team is presumably still evaluating, however.

2011

Though the Patriots drafted fellow QB Ryan Mallett this past April, he's viewed as more of a developmental project than an immediate threat to Hoyer's gig as Tom Brady's top backup. In any case, Hoyer remains next in line for snaps in the event of an injury to Brady.

2010

As an undrafted free agent, the odds were stacked against Hoyer last year, but he'll head into the 2010 season as Tom Brady's top backup once again unless the Patriots make a move to add some veteran QB depth.

2009

Like most undrafted QBs he's a bit of a project, but he enters a Patriots' system where he has a chance to be methodically coached up. If he sticks as a rookie though, he'd either have to beat out Matt Gutierrez or settle for a spot on the practice squad.